CCNA Network Infrastructure and Connectivity Practice Question
A network administrator is deploying a new branch office that will have 500 devices in a single VLAN. The administrator wants to minimize broadcast traffic and improve performance by segmenting the network into smaller broadcast domains while keeping the design simple. Which action best accomplishes this?
⚠ Common exam trap
Test-takers frequently confuse traffic-rate limiting tools like storm control with actual broadcast domain segmentation.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Create multiple VLANs and assign devices to them based on function, then route between the VLANs.
Segmenting a large flat network into multiple VLANs creates smaller broadcast domains, which directly reduces broadcast traffic and improves performance. Storm control only limits rates without segmenting, MTU changes are irrelevant to broadcast domains, and private VLANs add complexity and restrict communication. Routing between VLANs preserves necessary connectivity, making the VLAN approach the simplest effective solution for the 500-device branch.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Increase the MTU on all switch ports to reduce broadcast overhead.
Why it's wrong here
MTU size affects the maximum frame payload and does not influence broadcast domain size or broadcast traffic volume. Increasing MTU could even cause fragmentation issues if not supported end to end. It does nothing to segment the network or reduce the number of devices receiving broadcasts.
- ✗
Configure private VLANs to isolate all devices from each other.
Why it's wrong here
Private VLANs restrict Layer 2 connectivity between ports, which can reduce some traffic but also blocks legitimate device-to-device communication unless promiscuous ports are carefully designed. This adds significant complexity and does not simply create smaller broadcast domains while keeping the design simple. It is not the best fit for a general branch office with mixed device communication needs.
- ✓
Create multiple VLANs and assign devices to them based on function, then route between the VLANs.
Why this is correct
Creating multiple VLANs splits the single large broadcast domain into several smaller ones, reducing broadcast traffic and improving performance. Routing between the VLANs allows devices in different VLANs to communicate when needed. This approach is simple, scalable, and directly addresses the goal of minimizing broadcast traffic in a 500-device network.
- ✗
Enable storm control on the switch ports to limit broadcast traffic.
Why it's wrong here
Storm control limits the rate of broadcast, multicast, or unknown unicast traffic on a port, but it does not segment the broadcast domain. All 500 devices would still be in the same broadcast domain, and excessive storm control could drop legitimate traffic. It is a mitigation tool, not a design solution for reducing broadcast domain size.
Visual reference
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Related to this question
Learn chapter
Storm Control Configuration
Key term
Storm control
Storm control is a network feature that limits the amount of broadcast, multicast, or unknown unicast traffic on a switch port to prevent network disruptions.
Key term
MTU
MTU (Maximum Transmission Unit) is the largest size of a single data packet that can be sent over a network without needing to be fragmented.
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JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official Cisco exam blueprint
This 200-301 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Cisco certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the 200-301 exam.